Written - Strategic Approach to Regeneration – Western Valleys

Since I announced our intention to develop a Strategic Regeneration Area in the Western Valleys in late 2008 we have been working with stakeholders to define the scope of the SRA and develop a prioritised programme of holistic regeneration activity. With this in mind I am today announcing the boundaries of the Western Valleys area of South Wales as a Strategic Regeneration Area.

The Western Valleys is part of the spatial plan area identified as Swansea Bay - Waterfront and Western Valleys. It is very much identified with its history of heavy industry in mining, steel and chemicals. It is today still suffering from the decline of these industries and as a consequence has a number of areas identified in the Wales Index of Multiple Deprivation 2008 as some of the most deprived in Wales.

Following representations from stakeholders regarding the programme area boundary of the Western Valleys, I can confirm that it will provide a regeneration focus on communities within a geography stretching from the Gwendraeth Valley in the West across to the Upper Garw and Ogmore valleys of Bridgend in the East and extend north to the community of Ystradgynlais and gives a population included within the boundary of 183,690.

The inclusion of part of the Gwendraeth valley in the Western Valleys SRA is intended as a temporary measure to enable the development of integrated regeneration opportunities in that valley, while the area’s specific relationship with ongoing regeneration in and around Llanelli waterside is developed.

The long term aim is to ensure a long term sustainable future through economic development, improving skills levels and training opportunities, stimulating job creation, raising housing standards, tackling economic inactivity, developing better transport links and promoting the highest quality of health care. An integrated programme of significant regeneration activity will be implemented to ensure a long term sustainable future and partnership is across boundaries is essential for success.

The programme is working in partnership with local authorities, the private sector and the community and voluntary sector and will build on the existing community infrastructure, including the Communities First partnerships based in the area, ensuring that best practice in regeneration is shared and the benefits spread across the valleys.

We will also ensure that local people are truly linked to the opportunities for regeneration and that the investment from the SRA programme adds value to existing and planned projects.